Senior Poster

Been slowly working on the senior poster that I need to make for my daughter. Got the pictures printed and picked up over a week ago. Made my weekly trip to Michael's and Hobby Lobby and got coordinating paper, sticky back felt, embellishments and even managed to pick up the Mickey font cartridge for my Cricut on clearance for $25.00. I get so caught up in the "want it to be perfect" mindset that I freeze up when it comes to committing paper-to-paper. I did finally print the captions that are going under each picture, I have the pictures "kinda" where I think they should go and the title letters are not only cut-out but pop dots are in place and the sides have been inked. So tonight...matte the pictures, trim the title blocks and attach everything to the poster board. It has to be ready for tomorrow night so this is it.

I did it! Finished the poster in plenty of time.

Still creating

I have been a little stalled lately but, haven't stopped altogether. We have had large amounts of snow fall (28"+ in a week) and the weather forecast calls for more by Sunday. I keep telling myself I will use this time to create but have ran into a new dilemma. I need a certain shade of cardstock (actually 2 shades) and the scrapbook store has been closed because of the weather. Hmmm.... I have been scheduled to teach a class on March 7. They want to see a sample. Racked my brain trying to think of something "new and exciting". In my efforts I actually finished two cute little matchbook scrapbooks I did for my daughters and their boyfriends. Will probably turn into valentine presents...who knows. Anyways, i have decided to stop trying to re-invent the wheel. Remember - "keep it simple!" so, I am going to turn in a squash book as the project for March. I've made tons of these before and even did this at a Days of Creation when my children were in elementary school.

I also have a board I need to do for my daughter for Senior Night at her high school. I have the idea pretty much fleshed out. The title is going to be She is and it will be pictures of all the different things she has been involved with her senior year (scholar, volunteer, teacher, dancer, cheerleader, etc.) I have the pictures, I have sticky felt for the letters, I need to get card stock to matte the pictures to and to put the titles on. I also want to make some paper flowers to decorate it that I found on Kaiser Crafts. They look like a cross between pom poms and flowers.

Plus, just getting out her dance pictures made me realize that I need to start and finish her dance scrapbook (15 years worth) before the beginning of May. I also need to start on designing her graduation announcements and ordering her senior pictures. She thinks shes busy...I may be done by oh next May when child number 4 graduates!

Success...success. I actually made three cards last night and mailed them today! Yeah, today is MLK Day but I still put stamps on them and dropped them in the mail! I wrote a note to my Aunt who hasn't been feeling well, I sent out a thank you and a get well card to a bingo patron. So really, only one from my list but hey - I did it.

Last night when I was working on them, I had to keep telling my self to keep it simple, don't over think things. That has been my problem lately. I will start a project and want just the perfect font, just the perfect embellishments, pictures, etc. I need to step back take a breath and just scrapbook. I was looking back over my husbands book which I did years ago and was still pretty happy with the pages. They were cute, simple and original. I just need to relax when crafting and let it flow.

I might have to paint breathe on my walls. I already have discover, create, dream. Sounds like breathe should be up there too. Maybe along with K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple stupid!).

I did it! Well, almost. I have attempted to get organized and started being more productive. I have actually ordered my daughters composite for the high school, ordered her senior pictures, emailed volunteers regarding bingo for the month and, called the specialist (who left a message 3 weeks ago) and scheduled an appointment for next month. Things are looking up. Of course, just as I've said that, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I still have to: print off a couple tax forms, get started on my card making, write some thank-you notes, order Phil's scrapbook, email the cheer parents, prepare for parent night tomorrow night, go prom dress shopping tomorrow. Oh yeah - things are moving right along. Oh and least I forget, school starts Monday!!!

Wow - haven't visited here in quite awhile. Needless to say, got all the materials ready for Jessica's class but never got around to participating. I'm feeling guilty about that. I had good intentions but let things get away from me. Now that the new year has come and gone (11 days now) I have done alot of reflecting. I am not one for new years resolutions but this year, I want to try it out. I am making a resolution of reaching out to people. I am going to get crafty and make cards to send out to those I have been thinking about. None of this facebook, email stuff but a tangible object they can open up and read. I am sure, that some will think it is a little odd. But I have a number of people in my life that I haven't spoken to in years. I have all the classic excuses children, work, life in general but I really want to take hold of this idea and run with it. I have already begun making a list: Aunt Sharon, Aunt Juanita, Denny and Judy, Steve and Linda, Pat and Joyce. I think of them often, but never tell them. Going to do something about that.

I was also surprised that I had received a couple of comments from others on my blog. It felt good. I really never thought anyone but myself would be reading this and was really using it as a sounding board. Made me think I should become more accountable for myself. Not to display things for others, but to get down and face myself and work on some things.

Random thought: heard a song on the radio yesterday that I hadn't heard in awhile. Made me realize that in that area as well I had slipped (back to listening to The River and The Promise yesterday). anyway, I digress... "Empty me of me Lord so that I may be filled with you." My new mantra I believe....

My Family's Holiday Values

The values I grew up with are so totally different than the ones I hold now. Growing up it was all about presents. I'm sure I knew about baby Jesus being born but I am equally sure I did not know what that represented to mankind.

I like to think that my husband and I put Christ back into Christmas for our children. We always made it a point to do for others at Christmas and include the children in this as well. Their classes at school would adopt a family and money would be collected and presents bought for this family. We would take "mittens" off the tree at church and replace them with real socks and mittens for children that needed them. We even spent Christmas Day at an shelter serving food to the homeless. And as always, Christmas Eve was spent at church. I still like that. Christmas Eve the family goes to church. I wish I could say the whole family but, unfortunately my son no longer believes and doesn't attend with us. He has new girl in his life who does believe. Maybe this year if we ask him, they will both attend. Certainly worth a try.

Sitting at work in the dark. The local power company had to take most of the city I work in off-grid while they repaired damages to a sub-station thanks to thieves. My particular building however, still has limited power because of an emergency power source to keep our main frame from crashing unexpectedly. Everyone is walking around in the semi-darkness chatting and laughing. With all that has been going on in my life lately (running 100 mph non-stop), it's making me wish that I could take my life "off grid" for awhile. Everyone slow down, spend time together, enjoying each others' company. That is what is suppose to happen at Christmas but we find more and more often, we're running from place to place and always behind schedule.

I haven't looked at my Jessica Sprague classwork in over a week and we are suppose to be on Day 3. I want to take time to look it over and get caught up. I need to go home now and make 10 locker decorations for my daughters cheer squad. We have locker decorating on Sunday evening before Meet the Team and we have a game tomorrow night, a wrestling meet Saturday afternoon, another basketball game Saturday night and my husband and I will be at bingo on Sunday afternoon. Doesn't leave a lot of time for creativity so I need to get cracking.